Syracuse University football team needs some more depth at the tight end position

Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse University football coach Doug Marrone held a news conference Saturday to discuss this week’s season-opener vs. Northwestern and the depth chart he released for the game. One of the most disappointing bits of news Marrone revealed concerned the status of true freshman tight end Ron Thompson.

“Ron Thompson has had a nagging injury, so we’ll just keep evaluating that,” Marrone said, explaining Thompson’s absence on the depth chart. “As of right now that’s one I really can’t give you an answer to. I’ll tell you this about the kid, though. He has had a nagging injury and he’s pushed himself through it. Now it’s a matter of making sure we’re doing the right thing on our end. We’re pulling him and resting him until we can evaluate what that injury is.”

Marrone went on the say Thompson was a player who most likely would have played this season had the injury, which is believed to be a lower-body injury, not occurred. The rookie (6-foot-4, 256 pounds), rated by Scout as a four-star prospect and the 13-best tight end in the nation last season, had displayed excellent speed and outstanding hands early in camp and had raised eyebrows from day 1. Lately he has been relegated to jogging around the team’s Manley practice fields.

With Thompson out of the mix the Orange has junior Beckett Wales as a traditional tight end and seniors David Stevens and Carl Cutler at the hybrid H-back slot, although Stevens could also spell Wales at times. It is not a lot of depth. Sophomore Max Beaulieu moved to tight end from the defensive line last year but is still struggling to catch the ball consistently. Redshirt freshman Louie Addazio returned to the team last week after rehabbing in Philadelphia from off-season shoulder surgery but is not ready to contribute. True freshman Ben Barrett was working at the position before he left the team.

That leaves freshmen Joshua Parris (6-2, 258) and walk-on Jacob Green as the only viable candidates to supply depth at a position of need for the Orange. The feeling here is Parris, who also displayed promise during camp although he appeared to be behind Thompson in the pecking order, will be forced to play this season. If he is Marrone may decide to try to redshirt Thompson even if he is ready to play at some point. Maybe that would be a good thing in the long run, as despite his great potential the youngster only turned 17 this month according to the online roster.